South Carolina Student Debt Ranks In The Top 5 Highest Nationwide

Author Melanie Day

July 31st 10:02 AM

Student debt is a hot topic in America these days. One I will spare you my opinion on. What should be done about the issue is debatable. But what is not debatable is the percentage of household debt made up by student loans. And this is especially true here- South Carolina student debt was found to be the 5th highest nationwide.

This is according to a new study by our friends at WalletHub. They recently “This is according to a new study by our friends at WalletHub. They recently “compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 12 key measures of indebtedness and earning opportunities”.

Nationwide student debt continues to grow. WalletHub reports that as of the close of Q2 in 2024 second the US has amassed a total outstanding college loan balance of approximately $1.62 trillion, according to the Department of Education. And you don’t need me to tell you that that is a lot of money.

Of the estimated 43 million Americans with student loan debt that comes out to around $38,000 per person. More than many of those 43 million probably make in a year.

Using data sets including metrics on the average student loan balance, unemployment rate for 25- to 34-year-olds, and the share of students with past-due loan balances WalletHub ranked these as the top 5 states with the most student debt.

South Carolina Student Debt

Mississippi
Pennsylvania
Delaware
West Virginia
South Carolina

And based on this data South Carolina student debt doesn’t look good. North Carolina came in right in the middle at 24th. So while not great, it could be worse. The five states with the lowest student debt? Utah, Hawaii, Washington, California, and New Mexico.

Thanks to our friends at WalletHub for sharing their research with us. You can read the full study and methodology here.

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

This North Carolina City Is The 4th Most Educated In The Country

Let’s talk about education. It’s a great way to increase your earning potential. The education level of an area is also an important factor when companies are deciding where to relocate. And the good news? One North Carolina city recently ranked as the 4th most educated in the country. With another coming in just a few spots behind. So what are the most educated North Carolina cities?

First, let’s take a look at the survey. It was conducted by our friends over at WalletHub. According to data shared with us by WalletHub, the median earnings of high school graduates are approximately 40% of what someone with a professional degree makes.

WalletHub’a report on 2024’s Most & Least Educated Cities in America, set out to determine where the most educated Americans are. To do so WalletHub compared the 150 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas across 11 key metrics. This includes adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the racial education gap, and the quality of the public school system among other factors.

Let’s face it- cities want to be filled with (and attract) highly educated workers. They are important to economic growth and ultimately tax revenues since higher levels of education often equate to higher salaries

Also educated citizens often want to live somewhere where they can maximize the return on their educational investment as well as be surrounded by others of a similar education level.

So where are the most educated North Carolina cities? Overall 8 cities were amongst this ranking. Keep reading to find out which ones and see where they ranked! Thanks to our friends at WalletHub for sharing their research with us. You can read the full Wallet Hub study here.

Most Educated North Carolina Cities

8. Hickory

Ranking 8th amongst North Carolina cities and 144th overall is Hickory. Despite flying under the radar on this study many consider Hickory a beautiful and affordable place to live!

Total Score: 26.91

Educational Rank: 141

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 140
7. Winston Salem

Ranking 113th overall is Winston-Salem. Which is home to Wake Forest University a prestigious private institution. So this ranking is a little surprising to me. I guess many graduates are not staying in the area post-grad!

Total Score: 45.56

Educational Rank: 119

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 39
6. Fayetteville

Yay Fayetteville! The city beat out two other NC cities and ranked 6th in the state and 106th overall. And that quality of education and attainment rank is in the top 10!

Total Score: 47.95

Educational Rank: 118

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 9
5. Greensboro

Greensboro marks the 4th NC city to rank in the 100s of this study. They came in at 101. Don’t worry it goes up from here (way up!)

Total Score: 48.90

Educational Rank: 108

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 35
4. Charlotte

Are you shocked the largest city in the state is only 4th in this study? Perhaps it’s due to the expansive population. Or more likely the plethora of nearby universities surrounding the top 2 cities. But ranking 45th overall and 4th in the state feels like Charlotte may be underachieving.

Total Score: 60.42

Educational Rank: 56

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 23
3. Asheville

In some ways, this shocks me. But then I remember how expensive it is to live in Asheville and it makes more sense!

Total Score: 63.31

Educational Rank: 35

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 46
2. Raleigh

And second in the state 9th overall is a city near and dear to my heart. And one home to my alma mater- Raleigh. So that does give me a sense of pride!

Total Score: 79.56

Educational Rank: 5

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 30
1. Durham

And the highest-ranking NC city and 4th in the country? Durham home to Duke University.

Total Score: 81.32

Educational Rank: 8

Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 1